by Isi Esene

Tom Ikimi, who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today told newsmen that he left the party to earn his respect.

He said this today while he was being received by PDP leaders at the party secretariat in Benin, the Edo State capital.

He reiterated his confidence in the competent leadership of the PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Tony Anenih, saying they both share a common agenda.

“We shall have a common agenda of working for the party in Edo state and Nigeria in general,” he said.

He denied reports in certain quarters that he left the APC for the ruling party so as to vie for elective posts saying he left the party to where he will be given his respects and his personal dignity will be respected.

Ikimi said, “I come here today not as a new member. I come here to be fully identified with my groups of 1999 and 2003.

“In politics, the party is supreme. We came here as cooks to cook the food and share it to others. But those who came in took the food away, the plates, the pots and everything away and left the cooks with nothing.

“The PDP will take over the state once again and once beaten, twice shy. I am not interested in being in a party of enemies, where a party man will plot against the party; I am at peace with all the leaders of the PDP whether big or small.

“I have implicit confidence in Chief Tony Anenih and we have had several meetings and I believe we have bridged the gaps. We shall have common agenda in working for the party in the state and Nigeria.”

Earlier, the Edo State PDP Chairman, Dan Orbih, described the membership of the former APC chieftain as boost to the party, adding that Ikimi was a “prophet” who had honour in his home.

“Your joining the PDP is a plus for the party and a minus to the APC. As we begin to move towards the next election and, although it is said that a prophet has no honour in his home, you are the prophet who has honour at home,” he said.

Isime Esene